Spatio-temporally light modulated imaging system including vertical cameras, and method for confocal imaging an object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10989904-B2
Application number	US-201616087891-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2016
Priority date	Mar 24, 2016
Publication date	Apr 27, 2021
Grant date	Apr 27, 2021

Abstract

A spatio-temporally light modulated imaging system and method for confocal imaging an object is disclosed. The imaging system may include a light modulating micro-mirror device with an array of mirror elements, an imaging optic for focusing illumination light from the micro-mirror device onto the object and directing detection light created in the object in response to the illumination light towards the micro-mirror device, and a camera device with a detector camera for collecting the detection light travelling via the mirror elements and a first optical relaying device on a first optical axis, and for collecting the detection light travelling via the mirror elements and a second optical relaying device on a second optical axis, wherein a camera body of the detector camera is arranged with a vertical camera axis, and a deflecting mirror is arranged for deflecting the detection light from the optical axes to the vertical camera axis.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Spatio-temporally light modulated imaging system, comprising:
a light modulating micro-mirror device comprising an array of mirror elements arranged in a modulator plane, wherein each of the mirror elements can be switched individually between first and second states with first and second tilting angles, respectively, relative to a modulator optical axis perpendicular to the modulator plane,
an imaging optic being arranged for focusing illumination light from the micro-mirror device onto an object to be investigated and directing detection light created in the object in response to the illumination light towards the micro-mirror device,
a camera device including at least one detector camera being arranged for collecting the detection light travelling via the mirror elements in the first state and a first optical relaying device on a first optical axis deviating from the modulator optical axis, and for collecting the detection light travelling via the mirror elements in the second state and a second optical relaying device on a second optical axis deviating from the modulator optical axis,
a camera body of the at least one detector camera is arranged with a vertical camera axis, and
at least one deflecting mirror is arranged for deflecting the detection light from the first and second optical axes to the vertical camera axis,
wherein the camera device comprises
a first detector camera being arranged for collecting the detection light travelling on the first optical axis, and
a second detector camera being arranged for collecting the detection light travelling on the second optical axis, wherein
a first deflecting mirror is arranged for deflecting the detection light from the first optical axis to the vertical camera axis of the first detector camera, and
a second deflecting mirror is arranged for deflecting the detection light from the second optical axis to the vertical camera axis of the second detector camera.

2. Imaging system according to claim 1 , further comprising
a beam combiner being arranged for deflecting the detection light from the first and second optical axes onto a common beam combiner axis, wherein
the camera device comprises one single detector camera, and
the deflecting mirror is arranged for deflecting the detection light from the beam combiner axis to the vertical camera axis.

3. Imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first and second deflecting mirrors are included in a support platform carrying the camera bodies of the first and second detector cameras.

4. Imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein
the camera optics of the first and second detector cameras are arranged along the first and second optical axes, respectively.

5. Imaging system according to claim 1 , further comprising
a casing enclosing the light modulating micro-mirror device, the first and second optical relaying devices, a first dichroic mirror, a second dichroic mirrors, a first emission filter, a second emission filters, and at least a portion of the imaging optic, wherein
the first and second detector cameras are arranged outside the casing, and
shielding sheaths enclose sections of the first and second optical axes outside the casing.

6. Imaging system according to claim 5 , wherein
the camera optics of the first and second detector cameras are coupled with the casing,
the camera bodies of the first and second detector cameras are arranged with the vertical camera axes separately from the camera optics, and
the shielding sheaths enclose sections of the first and second optical axes between the camera optics and the camera bodies.

7. Imaging system according to claim 6 , wherein
the shielding sheaths are slidably arranged on the camera optics.

8. Imaging system according to claim 5 , wherein
the casing and the support platform are separately arranged on a common basis platform.

9. Spatio-temporally light modulated imaging system comprising:
a light modulating micro-mirror device comprising an array of mirror elements arranged in a modulator plane, wherein each of the mirror elements can be switched individually between first and second states with first and second tilting angles, respectively, relative to a modulator optical axis perpendicular to the modulator plane;
an imaging optic being arranged for focusing illumination light from the micro-mirror device onto an object to be investigated and directing detection light created in the object in response to the illumination light towards the micro-mirror device;
a camera device including at least one detector camera being arranged for collecting the detection light travelling via the mirror elements in the first state and a first optical relaying device on a first optical axis deviating from the modulator optical axis, and for collecting the detection light travelling via the mirror elements in the second state and a second optical relaying device on a second optical axis deviating from the modulator optical axis;
a camera body of the at least one detector camera is arranged with a vertical camera axis;
at least one deflecting mirror is arranged for deflecting the detection light from the first and second optical axes to the vertical camera axis;
a carrier wheel device being arranged for carrying multiple pairs of first and second dichroic beam splitters and multiple pairs of first and second emission filters, wherein the carrier wheel device is adjustable in multiple operational positions relative to the first and second optical axes such that in each operational position
one of the pairs of first and second dichroic beam splitters is arranged in the first and second optical axes for directing illumination light from first and second light source devices via the first and second optical relaying devices towards the micro-mirror device, respectively, and
one of the pairs of first and second emission filters is arranged in the first and second optical axes for filtering detection light before collected with the camera device, and

a casing accommodating the light modulating micro-mirror device, the first and second optical relaying devices and including the carrier wheel device.

10. Imaging system according to claim 9 , wherein
the carrier wheel device comprises a first rotatable wheel carrying the pairs of first and second dichroic beam splitters and a second rotatable wheel carrying the pairs of first and second emission filters.

11. Imaging system according to claim 9 , wherein
the carrier wheel device is arranged such that the selected one of the pairs of first and second dichroic beam splitters and the selected one of the pairs of first and second emission filters are positioned around a location of minimum light beam diameters along the first and second optical axes, respectively.

12. Imaging system according to claim 9 , wherein
the carrier wheel device comprises fitting frames each of which being arranged for accommodating one of the first and second dichroic beam splitters and emission filters.

13. Imaging system according to claim 12 , wherein
the filters are mounted in the fitting frames using an isotropic spring loaded mechanism.

14. Imaging system according to claim 12 , wherein
the fitting frames can be individually inserted into or removed from the carrier wheel device.

15. Imaging system according to claim 12 , wherein
at least one of the first and second dichroic beam splitters and the emission filters are exchangeable.

16. Imaging system according to claim 12 , wherein
at least one of the first and second dichroic beam splitters and t

Assignees

• Max Planck Gesellschaft

Inventors

• Jovin Thomas M
• De Vries Anthony
• Freund Tobias
• Durst Sebastian

Classifications

• G02B7/22 Primary

  Extensible connections, e.g. bellows · CPC title

• G02B21/362

  Mechanical details, e.g. mountings for the camera or image sensor, housings (G02B21/364 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B21/0048

  scanning mirrors, e.g. rotating or galvanomirrors, MEMS mirrors · CPC title

• G02B21/0032

  Optical details of illumination, e.g. light-sources, pinholes, beam splitters, slits, fibers (G02B21/0036 - G02B21/008; means for illumination of specimens in general G02B21/06) · CPC title

• G02B21/008 Primary

  Details of detection or image processing, including general computer control · CPC title